Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang fielded a number ofquestions ranging from crackdowns on counterfeit and contraband goods tobringing electricity to rural and island areas during a NationalAssembly question-and-answer session in Hanoi on June 12.
He admitted that existing penalties on trading fake and smuggledmerchandise are not stringent enough, resulting in repeat offences. Toremedy this, there should be stricter punishments as a deterrent towould-be offenders.
As of the first quarter of2015, over 200,000 business households had signed commitments againstthe stockpile and trade of imitation and contraband items, nearly 10percent of which paid administrative fines for their violations.
A contingent of qualified officials is also needed to address the problem, he said.
The minister also expressed concern over the prevalence of goodsdisguised as high-quality and made-in-Vietnam sent to mountainous andrural areas, adding that market management units will conduct thoroughchecks on shipments of goods bound for these areas.
In the campaign “Vietnamese people prioritise Vietnamese goods”, over70 percent of polled consumers said they would choose home-grownproducts over others if their prices and designs were similar.
In response to a question about the supply of electricity to rural andmountainous areas, Hoang said Vietnam strives to bring power to allvillages and communes by 2020.
Statistically, 96percent of communes and 97 percent of rural households have access toelectricity. The remaining 500,000 households across 1,000 villages in55 communes have yet to join the national power grid.
According to him, the power sector will take over downgraded utilitystations run by cooperatives in more than 2,000 communes nationwide by2016, with necessary steps underway to ensure smooth asset transfers.
Hoang stated that instances of power shortages willend by 2020, though the southern region is likely to suffer continuedoutages in 2017 and 2018 due to insufficient supply.
Regarding solutions to overcrowding in border areas, he said theministry proposed building a transit area in collaboration with theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Lang Son authoritiesover 10 kilometres from Tan Thanh border, capable of handling over 1,000trucks and classifying goods for customs clearance.
It also requested funding from the government for the project, he added.
At the end of the session, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung askeddepartments and agencies to restructure the market in a way thatguarantees the smooth flow of goods and the removal of unnecessary redtape.
He demanded a thorough market analysis todesign different manufacturing and distribution models, such assupermarkets, transit centres, maintenance and transport assemblies, asum-up of the campaign “Vietnamese prioritise Vietnamese goods” andbrainstorming ideas to reform the support industry.
On the control of power and fuel prices, the top legislator expressedwish for a more transparent market, thereby gaining trust from thepublic.
Hydropower plants are also expected to rundams safely and make resettlements more convenient for residents who aredisplaced by site clearances.
The Chairman hoped that the minister would report completed projects at the 13th National Assembly’s 10th session.-VNA
He admitted that existing penalties on trading fake and smuggledmerchandise are not stringent enough, resulting in repeat offences. Toremedy this, there should be stricter punishments as a deterrent towould-be offenders.
As of the first quarter of2015, over 200,000 business households had signed commitments againstthe stockpile and trade of imitation and contraband items, nearly 10percent of which paid administrative fines for their violations.
A contingent of qualified officials is also needed to address the problem, he said.
The minister also expressed concern over the prevalence of goodsdisguised as high-quality and made-in-Vietnam sent to mountainous andrural areas, adding that market management units will conduct thoroughchecks on shipments of goods bound for these areas.
In the campaign “Vietnamese people prioritise Vietnamese goods”, over70 percent of polled consumers said they would choose home-grownproducts over others if their prices and designs were similar.
In response to a question about the supply of electricity to rural andmountainous areas, Hoang said Vietnam strives to bring power to allvillages and communes by 2020.
Statistically, 96percent of communes and 97 percent of rural households have access toelectricity. The remaining 500,000 households across 1,000 villages in55 communes have yet to join the national power grid.
According to him, the power sector will take over downgraded utilitystations run by cooperatives in more than 2,000 communes nationwide by2016, with necessary steps underway to ensure smooth asset transfers.
Hoang stated that instances of power shortages willend by 2020, though the southern region is likely to suffer continuedoutages in 2017 and 2018 due to insufficient supply.
Regarding solutions to overcrowding in border areas, he said theministry proposed building a transit area in collaboration with theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Lang Son authoritiesover 10 kilometres from Tan Thanh border, capable of handling over 1,000trucks and classifying goods for customs clearance.
It also requested funding from the government for the project, he added.
At the end of the session, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung askeddepartments and agencies to restructure the market in a way thatguarantees the smooth flow of goods and the removal of unnecessary redtape.
He demanded a thorough market analysis todesign different manufacturing and distribution models, such assupermarkets, transit centres, maintenance and transport assemblies, asum-up of the campaign “Vietnamese prioritise Vietnamese goods” andbrainstorming ideas to reform the support industry.
On the control of power and fuel prices, the top legislator expressedwish for a more transparent market, thereby gaining trust from thepublic.
Hydropower plants are also expected to rundams safely and make resettlements more convenient for residents who aredisplaced by site clearances.
The Chairman hoped that the minister would report completed projects at the 13th National Assembly’s 10th session.-VNA
